Manhunt is on as 22 injured in London subway terrorism explosion

A forensics officer works at the scene of an incident on the District line in London on Friday. A bomb exploded on an underground train near the Parsons Green station, injuring a number of people in an apparent terror attack. Photo by Andy Rain/EPA-EFE

Several passengers were burned and dozens hurried to leave the train and get out of harm’s way. At least 22 people were injured, mostly with burns, but none seriously.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Marc Rowley said an improvised explosive device is suspected to have caused the blast. He also said streets in the area of the subway station have been cordoned off, and British counterintelligence agency MI5 is involved in the investigation.

The incident prompted panic in the subway, disrupted schedules and drew a quick and heavy response from rescue workers and armed police. Emergency responders were on the scene within minutes, Rowley said.

“Another attack in London by a loser terrorist,” he tweeted early Friday. “These are sick and demented people who were in the sights of Scotland Yard. Must be proactive!”

“The internet is their main recruitment tool which we must cut off & use better!” he added in another post.

Friday’s was the fifth terrorism-related attack in London this year. The previous four killed 36 people, and police said six other significant plots, soon to be prosecuted, were thwarted before they occurred.